- Recently posted by WIBC: an interview with Fuel head coach Scott Hillman done by Ray Steele.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have a familiar face coming in as their goaltending coach -- Jim Waite, who played goal for the IHL Ice throughout the 1990s.
- Former Indiana Ice assistant coach Adam Krug has been named the head coach at Adrian College, his alma mater. Adrian plays in the NCAA's Div. III. Krug had previously been slated to be an assistant coach for the Green Bay Gamblers.
- Adam's younger brother, former Ice defenseman Torey Krug, talked about Independence Day with BostonBruins.com last week.
- A few Independence Day links: THN says the best American team might be one that surprises you and lists the top 10 moments in American hockey history (#1 is an obvious one, and there's a glaring omission that's as big as a Squaw Valley).
- Thoughts & prayers go out to the Ottawa Senators and GM Bryan Murray in his battle with cancer.
- The Detroit Red Wings featured former Ice coach and current Grand Rapids Griffins coach Jeff Blashill speaking to the team's prospects at development camp. Blashill won the Clark Cup with the Ice in 2009 and the AHL's Calder Cup in Grand Rapids in 2013.
Showing posts with label Jeff Blashill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jeff Blashill. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Link roundup: Jim Waite back with Hawks & more
A few links from around the hockey world of interest to local hockey fans:
Friday, June 6, 2014
Hockey links & potpourri June 6
Below the jump in today's link roundup, read about Jeff Blashill's contract extension, another new ECHL coach -- this time in Evansville (creating a vacancy in Elmira), the Reading Royals' new affiliation, an update on the Kelly Cup Final, and a really incredible story about Indiana native Doc Emrick that you won't want to miss.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Indy hockey-related links
A few potpourri items for the week: Looking back at the Ice-Green Bay series, a few Jeff Blashill Coach of the Year links, and items on Torey Krug & Paul Carey, two Ice alumni competing for the Stanley Cup; and another Ice alum scores his first pro goal.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
News update: Blashill coach named AHL Coach of the Year
Former Indiana Ice coach Jeff Blashill was named the American Hockey League's Coach of the Year on Tuesday.
Blashill is the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, and has his team two points away from a division title. Grand Rapids is the top affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, where Blashill had previously served as an assistant coach.
 |
| Jeff Blashill |
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Blashill adjusting to NHL life
The Kalamazoo Gazette caught up with former Ice coach Jeff Blashill, who is now an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings.
Blashill is working with a busy schedule, and oversees the NHL's fifth-best power play.
Read the story here.
Blashill is working with a busy schedule, and oversees the NHL's fifth-best power play.
Read the story here.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Today in history: December 10
December 10 in Indianapolis hockey history
1978: Gary Inness backstops a 6-4 Racers victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Don Larway, Bryon Baltimore and John Hughes scored three goals in a 100-second span late in the second to give the Racers a 4-2 lead. Rene LeClerc scored the game-winner at 9:07 of the third. It was the team’s final victory, and took place in front of 4,735 fans.
Birthday
Jeff Blashill: Ice coach from 2008-10, leading them to the Clark Cup championship in 2009. His teams went 72-53-5 over the two years with the Ice. They won the title in 2009, defeating the Fargo Force 3-1 in the championship series. The following year, they defeated Cedar Rapids in five games in the opening round before falling to eventual Clark Cup champion Green Bay in the conference finals. He moved on to coach Western Michigan University for one year, having a tremendous run, and currently serves as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., he is 38.
1978: Gary Inness backstops a 6-4 Racers victory over the Edmonton Oilers. Don Larway, Bryon Baltimore and John Hughes scored three goals in a 100-second span late in the second to give the Racers a 4-2 lead. Rene LeClerc scored the game-winner at 9:07 of the third. It was the team’s final victory, and took place in front of 4,735 fans.
Birthday
Jeff Blashill: Ice coach from 2008-10, leading them to the Clark Cup championship in 2009. His teams went 72-53-5 over the two years with the Ice. They won the title in 2009, defeating the Fargo Force 3-1 in the championship series. The following year, they defeated Cedar Rapids in five games in the opening round before falling to eventual Clark Cup champion Green Bay in the conference finals. He moved on to coach Western Michigan University for one year, having a tremendous run, and currently serves as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., he is 38.
Friday, July 8, 2011
More on Blashill (and Cassidy)
Some stories on Jeff Blashill's promotion to the Detroit Red Wings:
The Detroit News quotes Wings coach Mike Babcock: "In looking to fill our coaching staff, I wanted successful and innovative coaches that would challenge us with new ideas in order to continually help the Red Wings become a better hockey team."
The Kalamazoo Gazette has updates with quotes from the NCAA's Coach of the Year. Says Blashill: "The most difficult part is leaving here and leaving a place I really love. It might sound weird after one year, but it's reality. I really fell in love with this place. It's special here. That makes it difficult."
The RedWings.com story is here.
Another story, from Fox News
Blashill coached the Ice from 2008-10. The official team release is here. Says Ice owner Paul Skjodt, who named Blashill coach and GM in 2008: "It is a great story for all aspiring head coaches with respect to Jeff’s successful journey here in Indy in the USHL and the success that followed at WMU. Jeff was never afraid to fail in his long term plan to one day coach in the NHL. His initial decision to leave Miami to run our hockey operations department took some time, but he realized he had to be in this position in order to advance his career. We were fortunate to have had him here and it was only a matter of time before his dream came to fruition. Cindy and I are proud to have played a part in his development and wish Jeff and his family much success in the future.”
Also, Matt Kalman's Bruins Blog has a nice piece on new Providence Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who is running the Boston Bruins' development camp this weekend (which includes Ice alum Brian Ferlin). Cassidy played for and coached the Indianapolis Ice in the IHL. Says Cassidy: "I talk to the players, they’re human beings, I like to put them in a position to succeed. I like to push them, to get a little bit more out of them. But I think I’m a lot less vocal than I was when I first started. I think part of that’s just being around it longer and having young children now."
The Detroit News quotes Wings coach Mike Babcock: "In looking to fill our coaching staff, I wanted successful and innovative coaches that would challenge us with new ideas in order to continually help the Red Wings become a better hockey team."
The Kalamazoo Gazette has updates with quotes from the NCAA's Coach of the Year. Says Blashill: "The most difficult part is leaving here and leaving a place I really love. It might sound weird after one year, but it's reality. I really fell in love with this place. It's special here. That makes it difficult."
The RedWings.com story is here.
Another story, from Fox News
Blashill coached the Ice from 2008-10. The official team release is here. Says Ice owner Paul Skjodt, who named Blashill coach and GM in 2008: "It is a great story for all aspiring head coaches with respect to Jeff’s successful journey here in Indy in the USHL and the success that followed at WMU. Jeff was never afraid to fail in his long term plan to one day coach in the NHL. His initial decision to leave Miami to run our hockey operations department took some time, but he realized he had to be in this position in order to advance his career. We were fortunate to have had him here and it was only a matter of time before his dream came to fruition. Cindy and I are proud to have played a part in his development and wish Jeff and his family much success in the future.”
Blashill to Red Wings
 |
| Jeff Blashill with the Ice in 2009 (linked from USHL.com) |
Blashill, the Indiana Ice coach/GM from 2008-10 who won a championship the first year, has been hired as a Detroit Red Wings assistant coach today. He spent the 2010-11 season at Western Michigan University, where he led the team to its first winning season in nine years and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years.
In a statement released by Western Michigan, Blashill said “Today is a very emotional day for me. I am extremely excited for the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream to coach in the NHL with the best organization in sports; the Detroit Red Wings. However, it is with extreme sadness that I step down as head coach of the Western Michigan Bronco hockey team. WMU is an extremely special place with special attributes. I am certain that with the commitment the university is making to hockey, that Bronco hockey will continue on its current path of becoming an elite program nationally. My goal when I became head coach was to bring the program to national prominence and I am totally convinced that will happen very soon, regardless of my leaving.”
Also, check out Graham Couch's coverage in the Kalamazoo Gazette. Blashill had just signed a five-year contract after his first-year success at WMU.
Before entering coaching in 1999 at his alma mater, Ferris State, Blashill also played three years in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers. His coach in Des Moines was Bob Ferguson, who would later coach the Indianapolis Ice in the IHL.
While with the Ice, Blashill coached NHL draft picks Anthony Bitetto, Nic Dowd, Nick Mattson, Blake Coleman, Brian Ferlin, Stanislav Galiev, Mike Cichy, Brent Gwidt and Brett Bennett.
You can also link to a 2009 Q&A with Blashill on USHL.com.
Jeff Blashill's coaching resume:
2011-12: Detroit Red Wings (NHL) assistant coach to Mike Babcock
2010-11: Western Michigan University (NCAA) 19-13-10 (1st winning season since 2002, first NCAA Tournament since 1996).
2010-11: Indiana Ice (USHL) 33-24-3 (advanced to 2nd round of playoffs, playoff record 4-5)
2009-10: Indiana Ice (USHL) 39-19-2 (Won Clark Cup, playoff record 9-4)
2002-08: Miamia University (NCAA) assistant coach to Enrico Blasi (four NCAA apperances)
1999-2002: Ferris State University (NCAA) assistant coach to Bob Daniels
1994-1998: Player at Ferris State University (NCAA)
1991-1994: Player for Des Moines Buccaneeers (USHL)
Red Wings to decide staff today
According to Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, the team will decide its coaching staff today.
That could mean that we'll find out within a few hours whether or not Jeff Blashill -- just one year removed from coaching the Indiana Ice -- will be an NHL assistant coach. Blashill interviewed for one of two vacant assistant coaching positions with the Red Wings. He had coached the Ice from 2008-10 -- leading them to the Clark Cup in 2009 -- and Western Michigan University this past season.
Oakland County Daily Tribune has an update
And, from Kalamazoo, here's a bunch of reader response -- positive and negative -- to the possibility of Blashill leaving WMU.
That could mean that we'll find out within a few hours whether or not Jeff Blashill -- just one year removed from coaching the Indiana Ice -- will be an NHL assistant coach. Blashill interviewed for one of two vacant assistant coaching positions with the Red Wings. He had coached the Ice from 2008-10 -- leading them to the Clark Cup in 2009 -- and Western Michigan University this past season.
Oakland County Daily Tribune has an update
And, from Kalamazoo, here's a bunch of reader response -- positive and negative -- to the possibility of Blashill leaving WMU.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Blashill finalist for Red Wings vacancy
 |
| Jeff Blashill (WMU photo) |
After a successful two-year stint as the Ice's head coach from 2008-10 -- which included the Clark Cup in his first year -- Blashill led Western Michigan to the CCHA title game and also to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years this past season.
He confirmed to the Kalamazoo Gazette that he has interviewed for a vacant assistant coaching position with the Detroit Red Wings, where he would assist coach Mike Babcock.
Said Blashill to the Gazette's Graham Couch: "I love Western Michigan. This is a special place in college hockey. ... But obviously it's the NHL and the Red Wings are what they are."
Blashill expects to hear from the Wings by the end of the week.
The Ferris State University grad assisted Bob Daniels at his alma mater and also assisted Enrico Blasi at Miami (Ohio) from 1999-2008. Miami made four NCAA Tournament appearances during his stint as an assistant. In two seasons with the Ice, his teams posted a 72-43-5 record and won the 2009 Clark Cup. WMU went 19-13-10 this past season -- the program's first winning season since 2002 -- and finished fourth in the CCHA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)